Approaching morphing wing concepts on the basis of micro aerial vehicles

C. Boller; C.-M. Kuo; N. Qin

doi:10.1117/12.720734

11 April 2007 Approaching morphing wing concepts on the basis of micro aerial vehicles

C. Boller, C.-M. Kuo, N. Qin

Proceedings Volume 6527, Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies 2007; 65270K (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.720734
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Morphing wings have been discussed since the early days of smart structures. Concepts and demonstrations started mainly in the context of real existing fixed wing aircraft. The complexity of existing aircraft and the limitations in terms of energy required and thus resulting cost made morphing wings mainly impossible to be successfully integrated into existing aircraft designs. Going however to smaller scaled aircraft where designs are less or possibly even not defined at all makes demonstration of morphing wings much more feasible. This paper will therefore discuss some morphing wing issues for micro aerial vehicle (MAV) designs where an MAV is considered to be an air vehicle of around 30 to 50 cm in span and a weight of less than 250 grams. At first the aerodynamics in terms of different wing shapes for such a small type of aircraft will be discussed followed by a design procedure on how to successfully design and analyse a morphing wing MAV. A more detailed description will then be given with regard to adaptively changing a wing's thickness where the actuation principles applied will be outlined in terms of conventional mechanical as well as smart structural solutions. Experimental results achieved in real flight tests will be described and discussed.

Citation Download Citation

C. Boller, C.-M. Kuo, and N. Qin "Approaching morphing wing concepts on the basis of micro aerial vehicles", Proc. SPIE 6527, Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies 2007, 65270K (11 April 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.720734

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